Detroit 2009: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero previews next-gen B-Class

Concept BlueZero At an off-site reception held tonight ahead of tomorrow's opening of the Detroit Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz showed off its new Concept BlueZero. The car is both an example of clean technology and a preview of the styling for the next generation Mercedes B-Class. Like the current A and B class models, this concept uses a sandwich floor design and adds a modular powertrain system. The car is envisioned with three powertrain options depending on the range requirements. The BlueZero E-Cell uses a 35 kWh lithium ion battery pack to provide a 120-mile range, while the BlueZero F-Cell variant gets a 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell for a 240-mile range. The efficiency of the fuel cell version is rated at the equivalent of 81 mpg (US). The third flavor is the E-Cell Plus and adds a 67-hp three-cylinder engine from the Smart ForTwo mounted in the rear between the sandwich floor layers where the spare tire would normally go. The ER-EV variant cuts the battery size in half as well as the electric-only range. The range extender, however, bumps the total range to 360 miles. Mercedes also announced that it will begin low-volume series production of the fuel cell B-Class later this year and follow that with low volume series production of a battery electric vehicle in 2010. Gallery: Mercedes-Benz Concept BlueZero [Source: Mercedes-Benz]

 

Mercedes Benz provides full details for BlueZERO concept family

Though most of the world associates green with environmentally-friendly technologies, Mercedes Benz and a few others use the color blue to denote their ecologically advanced vehicles and drivetrains. The latest development in the blue-themed line of Mercedes offerings is a trio of BlueZERO electric vehicle concepts being presented at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The concepts are called the E-Cell, F-Cell and E-Cell Plus, all of which offer slightly different takes on the electric vehicle concept but feature the same exterior design and overall 13.85ft (4.22m) length. The E-Cell uses a pure-ev design, with lithium-ion batteries and electric motors doing all of the work. Mercedes BlueZero Concepts

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2010 Chevrolet Spark (aka Chevrolet Beat) leaked before Detroit

Just two days ago, Ed Welburn gave Matt Lauer from the Today Show a sneak peek at the production version of the Chevrolet Beat. An image of the car has now leaked out onto the web prior to its Detroit Auto Show debut tomorrow. Details on the availability of the 2010 Chevrolet Spark are still sketchy and we're not sure whether GM will offer the minicar in the U.S. As of right now, all we know is that it will make its world debut tomorrow and will also be a character in the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen which will hit theaters in June 2009. We'll bring you all the official details and images on the 2010 Spark tomorrow after the 2009 NAIAS officially gets underway. Source: Carspyshots (via WCF)

 

California Changes The Definition Of A Motorcycle

Seems that the golden state has decided to alter the definition of what is a motorcycle. What counts as a motorcycle in California? If it's got two or three wheels, it'll be a motorcycle. Period. Simple, no? There used to be a weight limit on three-wheeled vehicles in Cal, anything above a certain weight, and it counted as something other than a motorcycle, and would be taxed, licensed and permitted accordingly (e.g. if it was a really heavy trike, you couldn't run it in the HOV lane). Now that restriction has been removed, meaning it could turn into a free for all for trikes. The real upside of this is how it will affect alternative vehicle designers and manufacturers in California. Now rather than trying to make a featherweight, er, car like the Aptera or Venture One, an entrepreneur could design and build something a little more robust. Also feeding into the alt-vehicle scene is that California will also no longer differentiate between motorcycles that run on alternative fuels. However it's powered, gasoline, electricity, or hydrogen, whatever, if it's got two or three wheels, it'll be a motorcycle. There is, as always, a dark side … one question that the law does not seem to resolve is whether the operators of three wheelers will now have to have a motorcycle license. Up to now three wheelers have not been classified as motorcycles and could be driven by anyone with a regular driver's license. Does this new law mean that in the future, an Aptera or Venture One owner will have to take their car-sized, er, "bike" down to the DMV and try to maneuver it around some cones? That could be fun to watch. Source: AutoBlogGreen

 

Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Auto Shows

When your standard microcar just ain't green enough. To an already impressive roster of hybrid and electric vehicles slated to appear at this month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we can add another: Smart has announced that it will be bringing an über-green Fortwo prototype dubbed the Electric Drive. While details are scarce at this point, Smart has said that the electron-powered Fortwo will get its juice from a lithium-ion battery. Citing ongoing tests conducted throughout Europe with small fleets of prior prototypes, Smart reports that feedback has been positive and that it's considering the project successful enough to justify production. Keep Reading: Smart Fortwo Electric Drive - Auto Shows

 

Toyota reveals iQ-based FT-EV Concept

Toyota has announced that it will display its new FT-EV concept at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, while also confirming that it will launch an urban commuter 'battery-electric vehicle' (BEV) by 2012. The world's largest carmaker also revealed that it will start consumer trials of a fleet of 150 plug-in hybrids towards the end of this year and launch as many as ten new petrol-electric hybrid vehicles next year. This announcement, coupled with its compressed natural gas powered Camry Hybrid concept display at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, signal Toyota's intention to broaden the scope of its advanced alternative-fuel vehicle development. The all-electric FT-EV concept shares its platform with the iQ urban commuter vehicle, and can drive up to 50 miles on a single charge. Although BEVs and new smaller vehicles like the iQ will be a key component of Toyota's sustainable mobility strategy, the conventional gas-electric hybrid, like the all new third-generation Prius, also set for this month's Detroit event, is considered Toyota's long-term core powertrain technology. 2009 Toyota FT-EV concept

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SsangYong goes into receivership to avoid bankruptcy

Despite the attractive new C200 crossover concept debuted at last year's Paris Motor Show, the successful Rexton production SUV and the new-for-2008 Chairman W luxury sedan, South Korea's SsangYong has revealed that it is entering court receivership to avoid being forced into bankruptcy. The global slump in car sales hit the carmaker hard in every market, pushing down share values by 77% over the last 12 months. The company had previously cut wages by 30%, reduced output and received a $45 million cash injection from China's SAIC, which owns 51% of SsangYong. SsangYong C200 Concept

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